Scrubbing-machine



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. M. PATTERSON. SGRUBBING MACHINE.

"Patented Sept. 4,- 1894.

NITED STATES 4 V PATENT OF ICE.

HENRY M. PATTERSON, 0F WIOHITA, KANSAS.

SCRUBBING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 525,392, datedSeptember 4:, 1894.

Application filed December 7, 1893. Serial No- 493,055- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. PATTERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wichita, in thelcounty of Sedgwick and-State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Scrubbing-Machine, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in scrubbing machines.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofscrubbing machines to increase their efficiency and rapidity ofoperation, and to provide a simple and inexpensive one which will lessenthe labor of scrubbing, and which will prevent the feet of theoperatorbecoming wet and walls and articles from being splashed -.with muddywater, and which will collect and deposit the surplus water from afloor'or other surface to be scrubbed. u

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended. Inthe drawings-Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a scrubbingmachine constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is areverse plan view. Fig. 3 isa transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is anenlarged detail view illustrating the means for adj usting the wipingroll. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the means for adjusting thebrush.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in allthefigures of the drawings.

1 designates an approximately rectangular casing, constructed of anysuitable material and provided at its front with a tapering tank 2,having a narrow transversely disposed perforated bottom 3 for sprinklingwater in advance of a scrubbing brush 4:. The rear wall of the tank 2inclines downwardand forward, and the scrubbing brush is located belowthe rear wall of the tank slightly in rear of the front portion thereofin vertical ways 6 of castings, secured to the inner faces of the sidesof the casing. The supply of water may be cut off by a horizontal slide7, arranged on the upper face of the perforated bottom 3 of the watertank and provided with perforations, which are adapted to register withthose die by means of which the slideor out oif 7.

may be operated.

The scrubbing brush may be constructed of any suitable material, whichis secured in a horizontal clamping frame 9; and it is adjustedvertically in the guides 6, which receive the ends of the clamping frame9, by sliding catches 10 provided at their outer ends with a tooth 11,adapted to engage any one of a series of notches or teeth 12 of theadjacent guide or way 6. The sliding catch 10 has its outer end pointedto form the tooth 11, and it is provided at opposite sides with lugs,which receive the clamping frame between them; and it has alongitudinalslot receiving a set screw 13 by means of which the sliding catch may beheld in engagement with the notches or teeth of the adjacent guide orway 6. As the scrubbing brush becomes worn by use it may be adjusteddownward; and new material may be readily supplied to the clamping frame9 when necessary.

The casing is supported by the carrying wheels 14:,whichare fixed to anaxle or shaft 15, and which communicate motion to a wiping roll 16,arranged in rear of the carrying wheels and adapted to remove the waterfrom a floor and deposit the same into a waste water trough or channel17 from which the water runs into a tank or receptacle 18 having adischarge opening or vent 19. The wiping roll is provided with absorbentmaterial 20, such as fabric or the like, and during the rotation of thewiping roll the superfluous water is removed by the absorbent material,which comes in contact with a screen 21, arranged over the trough orchannel 17, and the water held by the absorbent material is removed bythe pressure and runs into. the trough 17. At the rear side of thetrough or channel at each end thereof is an inwardly opening valve 22,which permits water from the trough or channel to escape into the wastewater tank or receptacle, but whichprevents ICO ceptacle'18 back to thetrough or channel.

The rotation of the wiping roll may be produced by positive or toothedgearing, or by frictional gearing 23 engaging a portion of the peripheryof the carrying wheels 14, which are preferably provided with slightserrations or corrugations to insure a positive operation of themachine. The wiping roll is journaled in bearings 24 of curved springs25, which are arranged in inclined ways 26. i The bearing 24 is at theupper end of the curved spring 25, which has its lower end engagedandadapted to be forced rearward by an adjusting screw 27, whereby theupper end of the curved spring is thrown forward to hold the frictionwheel 23 in contact with the adjacent carrying wheel. The curved spring25 is provided intermediate of its ends at its convex face with a tooth28, adapted to engage any one of a series of notches 29, in order toenable the wiping roll to be adjusted vertically to obtain the propercontact with the surface to be scrubbed.

The scrubbing machine is moved over the floor or other surface to bescrubbed by means of a handle frame 30, which is secured to the casingat opposite sides thereof, and is arranged adjacent to the rear face ofthe inclined back of the supply tank. The casing is provided at its topwith a cover section 31 and a removable cover 33 to prevent any upwardsplashing.

: As the machine is moved forward the surface is scrubbed; thesuperfluous water is removed from the floor and deposited in the wastewater tank or receptacle; and there is no liability of the operatorsfeet becoming wet. In operating about corners the machine may be movedrearwardly and is provided at its front in advance of the supply tankwith a transverse mop 32, which wipes up the superfiuous water duringthe rearward movement of the scrubbing machine.

It will be readily apparent that the scrubbing machine is simple andcomparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is positiveandefficient in its operation and is capable of scrubbing with greatrapidity and ease. and that there is no liability of splashing the wallsor articles of furniture by its use as the scrubbing brush and thewiping roll are located within the casing in the intervening spacebetween the compartments which form the tank and the waste waterreceptacle.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a scrubbing machine, the combination of a casingprovided at its front with a supply tank and having at its back a wastewater receptacle provided with a trough at its front and having inwardlyopening valves communicating with the trough, a screen cover ing thetrough, a scrubbing brush, and a wiping roll arranged adjacent to thetrough, substantially as described.

2. In a scrubbing machine, the combination of a casing provided withways having series of notches or teeth, a scrubbing brush arranged inthe ways and being adjustable therein, and sliding catches mounted onthe scrubbing brush and arranged to engage the notches .or teeth tosecure the scrubbing brush in its adjustment, substantially asdescribed.

3. Ina scrubbing machine, the combination of a casing, carrying wheelsjournaled on the casing, a wiping roll having a friction wheel engagingthe adjacent carrying wheel, a spring provided at its upper end with ahearing to receive the wiping roll and fulcrumed intermediate of itsends, and an adjusting screw engaging the lower end of the spring,substantially as and for the purpose described.

4:. In a scrubbing machine, the combination of a casing provided withnotches or teeth, carrying wheels journaled on the casing, a Wipingroll, a curved spring provided at its upper end with a bearing.receiving the wiping roll and having intermediate of its ends a toothengaging the notches or teeth of the 9 casing, and means for securingthe lower end of the spring in engagement with the carrying whee],substantially as described.

5. In a scrubbing machine, the combination of a casing, a castingsecured to the casing and provided with notches or teeth, a carryingwheel journaled on the casing, a wiping roll having a friction wheelengaging the carrying wheel, a curved spring provided at its upper endswith a bearing to receive the wiping roll and having at its lower end aslot, and provided intermediate of its ends with a tooth to engage thoseof the casting,

whereby the wiping roll is vertically adjustable, and an adjusting screwarranged in the slot and engaging the lower end of the spring, toregulate the tension thereof substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy. signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY M. PATTERSON.

Witnesses:

C. L. ENGLE, F. R. J ONES.

